Machine for forming package trays



Jan. 6, 1959 M. T. MOORE 2,867,157

MACHINE FOR FORMING PACKAGE TRAYS Filed Sept. 27, 1954 Fig. Marietta 7bnner Moore INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent MACHINE FOR FORMING PACKAGE TRAYS Marietta Tanner Moore, Dallas, Tex.

Application September 27, 1954, Serial No. 458,338

12 Claims. (CI. 93-37) This invention relates to package trays and more particularly to a machine for forming pre-cut blanks into package trays.

One object of the invention is to provide a new and improved machine for forming pre-cut blanks into package trays.

Another object is to provide a new and improved machine for forming pre-cut blanks into package trays having interlocked transversely and longitudinally disposed vertical partitions.

Still another object is to provide a machine, of the type described, which has cams for initially bending certain portions of the blank upwardly to form the transverse partitions and then bending other portions of the blank upwardly to form longitudinal partitions and which interlock with the transverse partitions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved machine of the type described which will form the package tray in a single cycle of operations.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved machine of the type described which is of simple construction, and simple quick operation whereby the package trays may be formed quickly, easily and economically.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the reading of the following description of a device constructed in accordance with the invention, and reference to the accompanying drawings thereof, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a machine for forming pre-cut blanks into package trays, certain portions of the machine being broken away;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the bending cams;

Figure 3 is a side view of the bending cams taken along the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an end view of the bending cams taken along the line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a single set of the bending cams;

Figure 6 is another perspective view of a single set of the bending cams; and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a pre-cut blank showing certain of the partitions bent or erected and interlocked, and others partially erected and interlocked.

Referring now especially to Figure 7, the reference numeral 10 indicates a pre-cut blank which has been illustrated and described in my co-pending application, Serial Number 393,285, filed November 20; 1953, and which consists of a rectangular fiat blank of carboard or other sheet material. This blank is slitted along substantially U-shaped lines 11 to form transverse tabs or partitions 12 which may be bent along the transverse fold lines 13 into erect positions in which they extend perpendicularly from the main portion 14 of the blank which then forms the bottom of a tray. The U-shaped slit lines have transverse portions 15 and parallel spaced longitudinal leg portions 16.

The blank is also slitted along lines 17, which are like- Patented Jan. 6, 1959 v 2 wise substantially U-shaped, to form longitudinal tabs or partitions 18 which may be bent along the longitudinal fold lines 19 into erect positions in which they extend perpendicularly from the main portion 14 of the blank.

The slit lines 17 have a longitudinal main portion 20, parallel spaced transverse leg portions 21 and 22, and a substantially longitudinal portion 23 which is a continu ation of the leg portion 22 and of the fold line 19.

Transverse slits 24 extend along the fold lines 13 between the main portions 20 of the slits 17 and a circular opening 25 in the longitudinal partition, and these transverse slits are adapted to receive the narrow curved portions 26 of the transverse partitions 12.

It will be seen that the transverse partitions, when erect, have apertures 27 through which the longitudinal partitions extend, the slits 24 and openings 25 permitting the longitudinal partitions 18 to be of the same height as the transverse partitions 12 since the narrow portions 26 of the transverse partitions are engaged in said transverse slits and openings.

The blank 10 may be provided with the various slits and the openings by a single die-cutting operation which may also score the fold lines 13 and 19 to facilitate the bending or folding of the partitions.

When it is desired to use one of the trays, the transverse partitions are bent upwardly along the lines 13 from the main portion or bottom 14 until they are vertical to the bottom, as shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4. The longitudinal partitions are then bent along the fold lines 19 upwardly from the main portion or bottom 14 of the blank until they are also vertical to the bottom.

During the latter portions of such upward bending movement of the longitudinal partitions, the narrow curved portions 26 of the transverse partitions pass through the slits 24 and enter the openings 25, the tab portions 28 of the longitudinal partitions adjacent the slits 24 bending outwardly to permit such passage of the curved narrow portions 26 of the transverse partitions into the openings 25. These tab portions snap back into their original positions when the portions 26 are in the apertures. When the longitudinal partitions are in vertical positions, their sides about the vertical edges 29 of the transverse tabs, which thus limit movement of the longitudinal tabs in that direction. The tab portions 28 engage the curved edge 30, formed by the notches 31 in the upper edges of the transverse partitions, to limit movement of the longitudinal tabs in the opposite direction. Thus, the longitudinal partitions are restrained or locked in upright or vertical position to the transverse partitions.

Similarly, the transverse partitions are held in upright or vertical position, since the curved portions 26 of the transverse tabs extend through the openings 25 in the longitudinal partitions. The transverse partitions, therefore, cannot move from their vertical positions until the longitudinal tabs are not in their erect or vertical position. It will thus be seen that each adjacent or associated pair of longitudinal and transverse partitions are interlocked when in erect or vertical positions.

The longitudinal and transverse partitions when in vertical positions act as separators or dividers which divide the package tray into a plurality of compartments. In each of the compartments, an article, or a stack of ar ticles, may be disposed and held by the partitions against movement toward articles in the other compartment. If desired, the package tray may be provided with longitudinal upright flanges (not shown) along each side, or'

similar upright end flanges, or both, which serve to add rigidity to the tray, and which also may serve to prevent articles in the compartment from sliding off the edges of the bottom.

The described package tray may be inserted in a cellophane or like wrapper or bag, or in a carton box to hold s,se1,1 w

articles against movement in the container, or the package tray may be used as a container, and such tray and its contents may be covered by a transparent cover so that the articles held by the tray may be easily visible.

The apertures 33 in the bottom 14 of the package tray left when the partitions are bent to vertical positions are of small size as compared to the articles to be held by the trays so that the articles cannot fall through the apertures.

The machine for bending the transverse partitions 12 and the longitudinal partitions 18 into erect positions includes a fixed base plate 51 on which are mounted two posts 52. A pressure plate assembly 53 is slidably mounted on the posts 52 and includes a substantially L-shaped bolster 54 having suitable apertures through which the two posts extend. The bolster may be secured to the re ciprocating ram 55 of a press in the usual manner.

The lower forwardly projecting portion 56 of the bolster is cut away to form a slot 57 and legs 58 and 59, and a pressure plate 61 is secured by bolts 60 to the legs of said bolster and extends across the slot. The pres sure plate 61 is provided with substantially T-shaped apertures 63 whereby the pressure plate may be lowered down over and past a corresponding number of sets of bending cams 62 which thus pass upwardly through the apertures 63 of the pressure plate. The sets of cams 62 are mounted on a plate 64 rigidly but removably secured to the fixed base plate 51 by bolts 65.

The cam plate 64 is provided with four depending guide sleeves 64a having axial bores through which elongate push rods 66 of a blank holder 67 slidably extend. The guide sleeves extend downwardly through suitable apertures in the base plate 51, and the push rods 66 extend downwardly therebelow through suitable apertures provided in rigid angles carried by the frame of the machine. Helical springs 69 are mounted on the lower portions of the push rods and adjustably confined thereon between the rigid angles 70 and adjusting lock units 68 threaded onto the lower portions of each push rod, whereby the springs bias the push rods and the blank holder 67 carried thereby upwardly. Nuts 71 threaded on the lower ends of the rods adjustably limit their upward movement by engagement with the underside of the angles. The blank holder is mounted on the upper ends of the push rods and includes a pair of parallel spaced opposed inwardly opening channels 72 joined by a plurality of spaced straps or dividers 73 which maintain the channels in rigid spaced relationship.

The cams 62 are disposed in groupings or sets of three, each set including a pair of tall or initially acting cams 74 and 75, each having at its upper end a downwardly and leftwardly (Figures 2 and 3) curved upper surface 76, and a pair of low or secondly acting earns 77 and 78, each of which has at its upper end a downwardly and inwardly curved surface 79. and 75 are adapted to engage and act upon the transverse partitions or portions 12 of the tray blank, while the cams 77 and 78 are adapted to engage and act upon the longitudinal partitions or portions of said tray blank, in a manner which will be hereinafter more fully explained.

Each set of these cams is grouped in a T pattern, and is adapted to pass through the corresponding T-shaped aperture 63 of the pressure plate 61 when the latter is lowered over the cams. The cam plate has been shown as provided with only three sets of cams, and correspondingly the pressure plate with only three T-shaped apertures, but it will be apparent that only a single set of cams or as many sets of cams may be provided as desired, depending on the size of the tray 10 and the number of partitions pre-cut therein.

In use, the pre-cut blank 10 is slid into the channels 72 of the blank holder 67 until the partitions or tabs 12 and 18 are positioned properly above the cams and below the apertures 63 of the pressure plate. The ram 55 then lowers the pressure plate 61, which contacts the The earns 74 i (iii channels 72 and, as it continues its downward movement, moves the blank holder and blank carried thereby downwardly against the resistance of the springs 69.

The outer portions of the partitions or tabs 12 remote from the transverse fold lines 13 then contact the upper edge portions of the curved surfaces 76 of the tall earns 74 and 75, and as the pressure plate continues to move downwardly these curved surfaces bend the transverse partitions upwardly into erect positions, the transverse partitions moving upwardly through the apertures 63 of the pressure plate. It will be apparent that the curved surfaces 76 become vertical at a plane spaced above the upper ends of the low earns 77 and 78, so that the transverse partitions are moved to upright positions before the blank engages the upper ends of the low cams.

After the transverse tabs or partitions 12 are in their upright positions, further downward movement of the pressure plate causes the longitudinal tabs or partitions 18 to come into contact with the curved surfaces 79 of the low cams 77 and 78 at the edges of the longitudinal partitions remote from the fold lines of those tabs. Continued downward movement of the pressure plate will then move the blank down against or near the cam plate 64, the curved surfaces 79 causing the longitudinal partitions to move into erect positions wherein the partitions are interlocked as has already been explained. The partitions are then erect and extend, together with the cams, between the dividers 73 of the blank holder 67 and through the apertures 63 of the pressure plate. The dividers 73 of the blank holder 67 pass between the low cam 78 of one set of cams and the tall cams 74 and 75 of an adjacent cam set.

The spacing 81 between the low or small earns 77 and 78 and between the low cam 78 and the tall cams permits the narrow portions 26 of the transverse partitions to pass therebetween. Likewise, the spacing 82 between the low cam 77 and the tall cam 75 permits the adjacent portion of the longitudinal partitions to pass therebetween in an upright position.

The ram 55 then moves upwardly, lifting the pressure plate, and as it moves upwardly the springs 69 move the blank holder 67 upwardly until the upward movement of the blank holder is stopped by engagement of the nuts 71 on the lower ends of the rods with the angles 70. The pressure plate, however, continues to move upwardly to a position wherein the now erect partitions 12 and 18 are clear of the pressure plate. The formed tray is then slid out of the channels 72 of the blank holder and the machine is then ready for another cycle of operations to form another blank into a package tray.

It will be readily apparent that successive pre-cut tray blanks may be fed automatically into the channels of the blank holder by means of suitable automatic feeding machinery. Likewise, it will be seen that a strip of material having the tabs or partitions pre-cut therein might be fed continuously and automatically through the channels of the blank holder, and that the section having the partitions erected might be cut off after such section has passed beyond the ends of the channels.

It will also be apparent that any suitable means may be employed to reciprocate the pressure plate, the ram 55 being capable of being connected to and driven by any reciprocating element of a prime mover or of any suitable mechanical movement for power transmission.

It will therefore be seen that a new and improved machine for forming pre-cut blanks 10 into formed package trays has been illustrated and described, which includes a plurality of sets of cams provided with curved cam surfaces which are adapted to successively engage the transverse partitions 12 and the longitudinal partitions 18 of the pre-cut blank 10 held in the channels 72 of the blank holder to bend these partitions about their fold lines 13 and 19, respectively, into erect positions as the blank holder is moved downward past the cams by the pressure plate 61. It will also be seen that the presthe partitions as the latter are bent into upright erect positions and that the pressure'plate helps hold the blank in proper position during the forming operation.

Moreover, it will be apparent that the machine is of simple economical construction, and operates easily and efliciently to form a pre-cut blank into a package tray during each reciprocationof the pressure plate and blank holder.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, and changes in the details of the method described and of the construction illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the type described including: a fixed base; a plurality of upwardly extending cams mounted on said fixed base; a blank holder mounted on said base for vertical movement toward said fixed base and downwardly of said cams; means on said blank holder for holding a blank against displacement from said holder in either direction vertically; means biasing said blank holder upwardly away from said cams and fixed base; and a pressure plate reciprocably mounted over said blank holder for engaging the blank holder and moving it down toward the base and over the cams.

2. A device of the type described including: a fixed base; a plurality of upwardly extending cams mounted on said fixed base; a holder mounted on said base for vertical movement toward said fixed base and over and about said cams; means on said holder for guiding and holding a blank against displacement in either direction vertically out of said holder; means biasing said blank holder upwardly away from said cams and fixed base; and a pressure plate reciprocably mounted over said blank holder for engaging the blank holder and moving it down toward the base and over the cams, said pressure plate having apertures through which said cams are adapted to pass.

3. A machine for bending transverse and longitudinal tabs of flat pre-cut blanks into erect transverse and longitudinal interlocking partitions including: a fixed base; a set of cams projecting upwardly from said fixed base and having curved tab engaging surfaces; and a blank holder mounted on said fixed base above said cams for vertical movement toward said fixed base and past said cams, said cams first engaging the transverse tab of a blank held by said blank holder to move the transverse tab into erect transverse partition forming position, and then engaging the longitudinal tab of the blank to move the longitudinal tab into erect longitudinal partition forming position as said blank holder is moved downward toward the fixed base; said blank holder having means thereon for positively guiding a blank horizontally thereon and for holding said blank against displacement vertically in either direction from said blank holder.

4. A machine for bending transverse and longitudinal tabs of fiat pre-cut blanks into erect transverse and longitudinal interlocking partitions including: a fixed base; a set of cams projecting upwardly from said fixed base and having curved tab engaging surfaces; a blank holder mounted on said fixed base above said cams for vertical movement toward said fixed base and past said cams, said cams first engaging the transverse tab of a blank held by said blank holder to move the transverse tab into erect transverse partition forming position, and then engaging the longitudinal tab of the blank to move the longitudinal tab into erect longitudinal partition forming position as said blank holder is moved downward toward the fixed base; means on said blank holder for guiding a blank horizontally of said holder and for holding such blank against displacement in either direction vertically from said holder; and means yieldably biasing said holder away from said fixed base.

5. A machine for bending transverse and longitudinal tabs of flat pre-cut blanks into erect transverse and longitudinal interlocking partitions including: a fixed base; a'

set of cams projecting upwardly from said fixed base 1 and having curved tab engaging surfaces; a blank holder mounted on said fixed base above said cams for vertical movement, toward said fixed baseand past said cams,

said cams first engaging the transverse tab of a blank held by said blanktholder to move the transverse tab into erect transverse partition forming position, and then engaging the longitudinal tab of the blank to move the longitudinal tab into erect longitudinal partition forming position as said blank holder is moved downward toward the fixed base; means on said blank holder for guiding a blank horizontally of said holder and for holding such blank against displacement in either direction vertically from said holder; and a pressure plate mounted above said blank holder for reciprocable movement toward and away from said base for moving said blank holder toward said base. i l

6. A machine for bending transverse and longitudinal tabs of flat pre-cut blanks into erect transverse and longitudinal interlocking partitions including: a fixed base; a set of cams projecting upwardly from said fixed base and having curved tab engaging surfaces; a blank holder mounted on said fixed base above said cams for vertical movement toward said fixed base and past said cams, said cams first engaging the transverse tab of a blank held by said blank holder to move the transverse tab into erect transverse partition forming position, and then engaging the longitudinal tab of the blank to move the longitudinal tab into erect longitudinal partition forming position as said blank holder is moved downward toward the fixed base; means on said blank holder for guiding a blank horizontally of said holder and for holding such blank against displacement in either direction vertically from said holder; means yieldably biasing said blank holder away from said fixed base; and a pressure plate mounted above said blank holder for reciprocable movement toward and away from said base for moving said blank holder toward said base.

7. A machine for bending transverse and longitudinal tabs of flat pre-cut blanks into erect transverse and longitudinal interlocking partitions including: a fixed base; a sets of cams projecting upwardly from said fixed base and having curved tab engaging surfaces; a holder mounted on said fixed base above said cams for vertical movement toward said fixed base and past said cams, said cams first engaging the transverse tab of a blank held by said blank holder to move the transverse tab into erect transverse partition forming position, and then engaging the longitudinal tab of the blank to move the longitudinal tab into erect longitudinal partition forming position as said blank holder is moved downward toward the fixed base; means on said blank holder for guiding a blank horizontally of said holder and for holding such blank against displacement in either direction vertically from -said holder; and a pressure plate mounted above said blank holder for reciprocable movement toward and away from said base for moving said blank holder toward said base, said pressure plate having apertures for receiving said cams and said tabs as said tabs are moved into erect positions.

8. A machine for bending transverse and longitudinal tabs of fiat pre-cut blanks into erect transverse and iongitudinal interlocking partitions including: a fixed base; a sets of cams projecting upwardly from said fixed base and having curved tab engaging surfaces; a holder mounted on said fixed base above said cams for vertical movement toward said fixed base and past said cams, said cams first engaging the transverse tab of a blank held by said blank holder to move the transverse tab into erect transverse partition forming position, and then engaging the longitudinal tab of the blank to move the longitudinal tab into erect longitudinal partition forming position as 7 said blank holder is moved downward toward the fixed base; means on said blank holder for guiding a blank away from said fixed base; and a pressure plate mounted above said blank holder for reciprocable movement toward and away from said base for moving said blank holder toward said base; said pressure plate having apertures for receiving said cams and said tabs as said tabs are moved into erect positions.

9. A machine for bending transverse and longitudinal tabs of fiat pre-cut blanks into erect transverse and longitudinal interlocking partitions including: a fixed base; a sets of cams projecting upwardly from said fixed base and having curved tab engaging surfaces; and a blank holder mounted on said fixed base above said cams for vertical movement toward said fixed base and past said cams, said cams first engaging the transverse tab o a blank held by said blank holder to move the transverse tab into erect transverse partition forming position, and then engaging the longitudinal tab of the blank to move the longitudinal tab into erect longitudinal partition forming position as saidblank holder is moved downward toward the fixed base; said blank holder including a pair I of opposed inwardly facing channels into which a fiat blank may be slid and guided horizontally of said blank holder, said channels holding said blank against displace ment vertically in either direction from said holder.

10. A machine for bending transverse and longitudinal tabs of flat pre-cut blanks into erect transverse and iongitudinal interlocking partitions including: a fixed base; a sets of cams projecting upwardly from said fixed base and having curved tab engaging surfaces; a blank holder mounted on said fixed base above said cams for vertical movement toward said fixed base and past said cams, said cams first engaging the transverse tab of a blank held by said blank holder to move the transverse tab into erect transverse partition forming position, and then engaging the longitudinal tab of the blank to move the longitudinal tab into erect longitudinal partition forming position as said blank holder is moved downward toward the fixed base; and means yieldably biasing said blank holder away from said fixed base; said blank-holder including a pair of opposed inwardly facing channels into which a fiat blank may be slid and guided horizontally of said blank holder, said channels holding said blank against displacement vertically in either direction from said holder.

11. A machine for bending transverse and longitudinal tabs of flat pre-cut blanks into erect transverse and longitudinal interlocking partitions including: a fixed base; it sets of cams projecting upwardly from said fixed base and having curved tab engaging surfaces; a holder mounted on said fixed base above said cams for vertical movement toward said fixed base and past said cams, said cams first cngagingthe transverse tab of a blank held by said blank holder to move the transverse tab into erect transverse partition forming position, and then engaging the longitudinal tab of the blank to move the longitudinal tab into erect longitudinal partition forming position as said blank holder is moved downward toward the fixed base; means yieldably biasing said blank holder away from said fixed base; said blank holder including a pair of opposed inwardly facing channels into which a fiat blank may he slid and guided horizontally of said blank holder, said channels holding said blank against displacement vertically in either direction from said holder; and a pressure plate mounted above said blaitk holder for reciprocable movement toward and away from said fixed base and engageable with said channels of said blank holder for moving said blank holder toward said base.

12. A machine for bending transverse and longitudinal tabs of fiat pre-cut blanks into erect transverse and longitudinal interlocking partitions including: a fixed base; a sets of cams projecting upwardly from said fixed base and having curved tab engaging surfaces; a holder mounted on said fixed base above said cams for vertical movement toward said fixed base and past said cams, said cams first engaging the transverse tab of a blank held by said blank holder to move the transverse tab into erect transverse partition forming position, and then engaging the longitudinal tab of the blank to move the longitudinal tab into erect longitudinal partition forming position as said blank holder is moved downward toward the fixed base; means yieldably biasing said blank holder away from said fixed base; said blank holder including a pair of opposed inwardly facing channels into which a flat blank may he slid and guided horizontally of said blank holder, said channels holding said blank against displacement vertically in either direction from said holder; and a pressure plate mounted above said blank holder for reciprocable movement toward and away from said fixed base and engageable with said channels of said blank holder for moving said blank holder toward said base; said pressure plate having apertures for receiving said cams and said tabs as said tabs are moved into erect positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,337,803 Deline Dec. 28, 1943 2,627,629 Triolo Feb. 10, 1953 2,737,861 Watson Mar. 13, 1956 

